List of Kaisers

The following is a list of Kaisers of Shireroth in chronologial order, from the legendary beginnings of Shireroth until the present; the calendar used is the AN reckoning. Each reigning Kaiser or ruling Steward is listed with their accession date, date of birth, date of death and blood line. Periods in which the Landsraad ruled the Imperial Republic directly are marked as "Landsraad".

Many of the Kaisers in this list are legendary; Shireroth's modern founding was in 1443 (the beginning of the Third Era). Foreign recognition of the Kaisership occurred later, in approximately 1462, with Erik Mortis becoming Kaiser Metzler I. The accurate record keeping in the Imperial Household began with Gaelen II in 1465, and all accession dates after that are taken to be authentic.

Legitimacy has always rested upon descent from Kaiser Raynor I. After seventeen centuries, much of Western and Central Benacia, as well as a fair smattering of Babkhi and Kildari can claim this boon. Nonetheless the frequently rotating succession remained within the clutches of a dozen or so noble houses who jealously guarded their notoriously intermarried bloodlines. In spite of the the vigilance of the Imperial Republic's noble oligarchs there have been several "sanglorian" Kaisers in the modern era, alongside a half dozen inhuman Kaisers (whether revenants or aliens). As the Third Era wore on, things became progressively stranger, until a measure of sanity was restored by the confirmation of the dynastic succession in the hands of the House of Ayreon-Kalirion, itself being however troubled by some of its dynasticassociations.

Contents

Historical overview

Debate continues as to whether the establishment of a new period of dynastic rule constitutes a fourth era. In the past, using a discredited historiography and calendar, as many as seven eras were postulated. However, following the Auspicious Occasion, a more rational approach to historical research has taken hold and the process of investigating and verifying the reigns of the Kaisers of the early era, and indeed the nature of their rule, is ongoing.

The Line of Machiavelli was established when the King of Machiavellia, a neighbour and ally of Shireroth, married into the Line of Raynor and installed himself in Shirekeep thus earning acclamation as Kaiser.

Second Era

The second era was dominated by warring states, who somewhat tenuously laid claim upon the bloodlines of the Kaisers of the preceding era, who vied for dominion over the course of the Red Elwynn between Shirekeep and Musica. An increasing reliance upon necromancy and daemons on the part of the houses as they struggled for paramountcy saw the society of the duchies of Brookshire and Goldshire progressively undermined until, after the diabolical pact of Kaiser John, those who remained were unable to maintain the sovereignty of eastern Benacia in the face of foreign colonists.

No.

Portrait

Regal name

Personal name

Birth

Reign

Death

Succession

Bloodline

Note

32

Kaiser Edward I

860–927

Machiavelli

33

Kaiser James IV

865–906

Haiken

34

Kaiser Raynor V

906–972

Raynor

35

Kaiser Jason II

927–950

Steffki

36

Kaiser Loki I

950–1011

Grifos

37

Kaiser Edwin II

972–1047

Machiavelli

38

Kaiser Brrapa III

1011–1033

Metzler

39

Kaiseress Isa II

1033–1105

Ballard

40

Kaiser Trantor II

1047–1102

Ly'Technomaezj

41

Kaiser Jason III

1102–1154

Steffki

42

Kaiser Paul V

1105–1144

Ly'Technomaezj

43

Kaiser Francis II

1144–1186

Fenrir

44

Kaiser Edward II

1154–1154

Machiavelli

45

Kaiser James V

1154–1187

Haiken

46

Kaiser Raynor VI

1186–1239

Raynor

47

Kaiser Nicholas II

1187–1224

Grifos

48

Kaiser Jason IV

1224–1279

Steffki

49

Kaiser Raynor VII

1239–1269

Raynor

50

Kaiser Iago I

1269–1321

Metzler

51

Kaiser Iago II

1279–1324

Metzler

52

Kaiser Nicholas III

1321–1357

Grifos

53

Kaiser Raynor VIII

1324–1337

Raynor

54

Kaiser John I

1337–1375

Metzler

55

Kaiser Raynor IX

1357–1414

Raynor

56

Kaiser John II

1375–1443

Metzler

Torn apart by the Shirekeep Mob.

57

Kaiser Daniel II

1414–1441

Fenrir

Defeated and executed by John II. Reputedly fed to a daemon in the Pit of Mur built beneath Raynor's Keep.

Elwynn declares independence & House System ends (1567)Landsraad open to all citizens for 1st time.Restoration of duchies.Duchy of Raynoria briefly established in the former lands of Brookshire (1567).